Mesut Özil to start as Wenger eyes Europa route to Champions League

Özil did not feature for Arsenal during the Europa League group stagesCATHERINE IVILL/GETTY IMAGES

Arsène Wenger has admitted that the pressure to deliver the Europa League is growing and so he will hand Mesut Özil a first start in the competition this season against Östersunds tonight.

The Arsenal manager has brought his biggest names to Sweden, knowing that winning the competition may be his best route back into the Champions League after his side fell eight points behind fourth place in the league.

The Frenchman wants to kill off the round-of-32 tie in the first leg and play a weakened side in the second game a week today, four days before Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.

Mkhitaryan will make his European debut for Arsenal tonightMATT DUNHAM/AP

Özil will line up alongside Granit Xhaka and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in a side that is also set to include…